Nothing says this place is dead quite like the death of someone like Hitch - and the almost complete absence of discussion about it.

When the death of Christopher Hitchens is covered on the front page of The New York Times, and atheists have been unseated as the most hated group in America by the Tea Party, one wonders if a protected board for atheists on a minor religious website is needed. I suspect like most of us you spend most of your online time on the athiest and atheist/general interest blog sites and check in here occasionally for sentimental reasons. When you do, note the views count on the threads. It isn't really dead, it is just that the info people are looking for is available here and there is no need to comment.

J'CarlinIf the shoe doesn't fit, don't cram your foot in it and complain.

The board isn't obsolete, nor should it be. With all the various groups represented on Beliefnet, that tiny little island - full of atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, humanists, Humanists, apatheists, igtheists (and anyone else who swims against the tide) - is nothing if not vital.

As for the death of Christopher Hitchens, it's obvious that the news was available elsewhere. My point is that if you can't get a discussion started about Christopher Hitchens - whose life was provocative, brilliant, hilarious, daring and noteworthy in every way - people aren't trying.